Rose McGowan to Wield Red Sonja's Sword

Rose McGowan has been the go-go dancer with the machine-gun leg, and now she's going to be the She-Devil With a Sword.

The titian-haired former Charmed star has signed on to play the titular mythical comic book hero in Red Sonja, to be produced by fiancé Robert Rodriguez and directed by Highland: Endgame helmer Douglas Aarniokoski, Millennium Films and Nu Images announced Friday.

"This is an amazing property and film for our company," studio exec Avi Lerner said. "Working with the talented Robert Rodriguez, having Rose McGowan as Red Sonja and Douglas Aarniokoski directing is a fantastic combination. We could not be happier."

The action flick will find Red Sonja, a Marvel character who first appeared as she is now in the Conan the Barbarian series, seeking vengeance against the evildoers that destroyed her family and then realizing it has fallen upon her and her kickass ways to save her Soviet-area land of Hyrkania from the sorcerer Kulan Gath.

Red Sonja was first brought to the big screen, B-movie-style, in 1985, with Brigitte Nielsen as the title warrior and Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Conan-esque Lord Kalidor.

McGowan, who most recently starred in both parts of the Quentin Tarantino-Rodriguez double-feature Grindhouse, appeared in a range of darkly funny films before settling down as Shannen Doherty's replacement on Charmed, including Scream, Jawbreaker and Monkeybone.

The 34-year-old actress also currently cohosts The Essentials on Turner Classic Movies.

Shooting on Red Sonja is expected to kick off in October. Millennium and Nu Images are currently scouting locations in Michigan and other U.S. spots.

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